CLARION, Pa. – For the second straight week the Clarion defense shut out their opponent in the second half, but the Golden Eagles' comeback attempt came up just short as they fell 23-17 to #3/2 IUP at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.  The Golden Eagles (1-7, 1-4 PSAC West) will play their final three games on the road, starting with the Battle for the Milk Jug at Slippery Rock next week.
 
The Golden Eagles trailed IUP 23-14 at the end of the first half but allowed the Crimson Hawks to score no more the rest of the game as they rallied back and pulled within one score.  Clarion booted a 26-yard field goal late in the third quarter to make it 23-17 but could not come up with the go-ahead tally in the fourth against their nationally-ranked opponent.
 
The defense took control of the action, forcing IUP quarterback Lenny Williams into a number of turnovers and pressuring him all day long.  The Golden Eagles sacked Williams three times, picked him off once and forced a fumble as Clarion held a 3-0 advantage in turnover margin.  Layne Skundrich finished with a game-high 15 tackles while senior Colton McKay had nine tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.  Tyrone Archie and Dante Paul each recovered fumbles, one of which was forced by Avery Howsare, and Bryson Craven intercepted a pass.
 
Clarion was led on offense by Mylique McGriff, who finished with 22 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown.  The score came on the Golden Eagles' second offensive snap of the game, after Samir Bullock fumbled the handoff on IUP's second offensive snap of the game.  McGriff broke to the outside on 2nd-and-9, winning the race to the pylon from 23 yards out to give Clarion a 7-0 lead.
 
The Crimson Hawks scored on each of the next two offensive possessions, but a missed extra point on their first touchdown of the afternoon gave them just a 13-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.  The advantage ballooned to 23-7 late in the fourth quarter after Dillon Sarka kicked a 29-yard field goal with 4:57 left in the first half. 
 
Clemens went big on the ensuing possession, finding Cameron Jefferies on a 53-yard bomb to get the ball deep into enemy territory.  On the next play Clemens rushed for four yards and took a shot out-of-bounds by Damon Lloyd to advance to the IUP 11-yard-line, and another personal foul on the next play gave Clarion a 1st-and-Goal from the IUP 6.  Kyle Evans slashed through the gap on third down from three yards out to make it 23-14 at the end of the half.
 
Neither team scored on any of the first four possessions of the second half, though Clarion broke through on a 26-yard boot from James Metzgar at the 2:22 mark of the quarter.  The Golden Eagles shocked the Crimson Hawks on the ensuing kickoff, with Metzgar perfectly executing an onside kick that was recovered by Craven.  Though the drive stalled out, it paved the way for a defensive battle in the fourth quarter.  IUP kept the Golden Eagles on their own side of the 50 for the rest of the game as they held on for the win.